HIGH SPEED ELECTRO-OPTIC IMAGE SHUTTER USING FERROELECTRIC LIQUID CRYSTALS

THE PROPOSED WORK AIMS TO DEVELOP ELECTRO-OPTIC SHUTTERS THAT HAVE A UNIQUE COMBINATION OF OPERATING PROPERTIES RESULTING FROM THEIR USE OF FERROELECTRIC LIQUID CRYSTALS (FLCS). THE ELECTRO-OPTIC CHARACTERISTICS OF FLCS WOULD ALLOW THE SHUTTER FAST SWITCHING (20 MICROSECONDS) AT LOW DRIVE VOLTAGE (15 V) WITH VERY LITTLE ENERGY COMSUMPTION (5 MICROJOULES/SWITCHING). THE EMPHASIS OF THE EFFORT IS ON DEVELOPING TECHNIQUES FOR FABRICATING SHUTTERS OF HIGH OPTICAL QUALITY. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES INCLUDE 2.5 CM APERATURE DIAMETER, 1000:1 EXTINCTION, AND 25% TRANSMITTANCE WITH LESS THAN 0.25% VARIATION ACROSS THE APERATURE AND LESS THAN + OR - 5% VARIATION WITH WAVELENGTH WITHIN THE VISIBLE SPECTRUM.